A computational fluid dynamics simulation of liquid swallowing by impaired pharyngeal motion: bolus pathway and pharyngeal residue.

A computational fluid dynamics simulation of liquid swallowing by impaired pharyngeal motion: bolus pathway and pharyngeal residue. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2019 Sep 30;: Authors: Ohta J, Ishida S, Kawase T, Katori Y, Imai Y Abstract Common practices to improve the ability to swallow include modifying physical properties of foods and changing the posture of patients. Here, we quantified effects of the viscosity of liquid bolus and the patient posture on the bolus pathway and pharyngeal residue using a computational fluid dynamics simulation. We developed a computational model of an impaired pharyngeal motion with a low pharyngeal pressure and no pharyngeal adaptation. We varied viscosities from 0.002 to 1 Pa·s and postures from -15 degree to 30 degree (from nearly vertical to forward leaning). Because of no pharyngeal adaptation, a honey-like liquid bolus caused pharyngeal residue, particularly in the case of forward-leaning postures. Although the bolus speed was different among viscosities, the final pathway was only slightly different. The shape, location and tilting of the epiglottis effectively invited a bolus to two lateral pathways, suggesting a high robustness of the swallowing process. PMID: 31566413 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: American Journal of Physiology. Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology - Category: Physiology Authors: Tags: Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol Source Type: research